Elastically interconnected articulated blocks

Abstract

Elastic cord interconnected blocks in which each block contains a plurality of deep slots cut to a centrally positioned interior washer-like connecting element having a hole coaxial that can freely pass the elastic cord. The element hole is coaxial with an axial hole formed in the block by the spacing of adjacent block segments, the segment having a spacing for passing a stretched elastic cord and for locking the cord in its relaxed state. Unusual shapes can be formed with several interconnected blocks.

I claim: 
     
       1. An elastically interconnected articulated article comprised of a plurality of blocks serially interconnected with elastic means, each block of the plurality having: a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one side surface covering the exterior sides of said block;   a central hole extending through said block and through said top and bottom surfaces, said central hole having a diameter permitting free passage of the elastic means;   at least one slot in said block, said slot extending between said top and said bottom and from the center of the exterior side of said block to said central hole; and   a connector element centrally located within said block and connected thereto in a plane substantially normal to said central hole, said element having a hole coaxial with said central hole in said block and with a diameter permitting free passage therethrough of said elastic means;   said elastic means is an elastic cord having a first diameter in its unstretched state and a narrower diameter in its stretched state, and wherein said slot has a width that is substantially that of the diameter of said elastic cord in its stretched state.   
     
     
       2. The elastically interconnected articulated article claimed in claim 1 wherein said block is substantially cubical and has four side surfaces each with a centrally located slot open to said central hole and to said connecting element. 
     
     
       3. An articulated article comprised of a plurality of blocks serially interconnected with an elastic cord having a narrower diameter in its stretched state, each block of the plurality comprising: a plurality of adjacent segments, each having opposite first and second ends, at least one exterior surface between said first and second ends and representing the exterior of the block, and at least one interior surface between said first and second ends and representing the interior of the block;   a connecting element receiving slot positioned substantially in the center of said interior surface of each segment of said plurality, said slot being substantially perpendicular to said interior surface; and   a connecting element secured into said element receiving slots in each segment of said plurality for assembling said segments into said block, said element having a central hole having a diameter for freely passing said elastic cord in its unstretched state, the spacing between adjacent segments forming elastic means receiving slots in the first and second ends and in the exterior surfaces of said block, said spacing being substantially the diameter of said elastic cord in its stretched state.   
     
     
       4. The articulated article claimed in claim 3 wherein said block is a cube having bevelled edges around the first and second ends thereof. 
     
     
       5. The articulated article claimed in claim 3 wherein said elastic cord extending from a block is prevented from entering the slots between adjacent segments by means increasing the diameter of said elastic cord. 
     
     
       6. The articulated article claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for increasing is a knot in the end of said cord.